The X account for the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee came under fire for posting a now-deleted tweet purporting to link to the "EPSTEIN FILES"—except it was a "Rickroll."
The account, which represents the Republican majority members of the committee and is run by committee chair Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, shared a post claiming that the “EPSTEIN FILES” had been released, including a shortened URL labeled “EpsteinFilesV2.”
However, instead of linking to any actual documents, the URL redirected users to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video—a well-known internet prank that’s been popular for nearly 20 years. The committee has not responded to inquiries about the post, which has since been deleted.
The internet is forever though, so you can see the post below, courtesy of journalist Yashar Ali.
The joke is particularly tone-deaf given that the Epstein files—long the subject of equal parts fascination and derision—could shed light on a potential connection to a list of associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Reports suggest that more than 170 names, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, billionaire Glenn Dubin, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, are expected to be among the names listed in unsealed Epstein-related documents, stemming from a lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted for aiding Epstein's abuse of teen girls.
The list of associates, redacted to obscure names, has drawn attention due to its connections with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while in custody, awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Not exactly a topic ripe for lighthearted jokes, as the GOP's own MAGA fans were quick to point out.
The GOP's joke making light of sexual abuse is especially egregious considering Jordan's alleged actions during his tenure as an assistant wrestling coach with Ohio State University's wrestling program.
Jordan, who worked for the university between 1987 and 1995, has been criticized by former wrestlers who said he had been aware of, but did not respond to, allegations of sexual misconduct by former wrestling team physician Richard Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005.
Jordan refused to cooperate with investigations into Strauss and described his accusers as "pawns in a political plot" even while facing legal action in response to his denials.
